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SETUP: Unable to login at server, for gmail account

  • 7 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 89 views
  • Last reply by Thomas Jahn
  • Solved

Paul Temple
Paul Temple

I have just installed Thunderbird. I've completed the Account Setup. The page checks the input and then return an error message saying: "Unable to log in at server. Probably wrong configuration, username or password".

The username and password are stored in Bitwarden [Password Manager] so are not wrong. In any case, I have the same email account open in a different browser demonstrating that I am using the right log-in name and password.

Knowing that the configuration is likely incorrect is no help. I have no idea what part of the configuration is incorrect. Guidance on what to change would be appreciated.

[Just in case the developers are reading, it would be really useful if paste was not disabled for the password field. Other browsers don't disable paste and I don't see why security requires it.]

EDITED ADDITION [Thanks David]: The email provider is Gmail.

I have just installed Thunderbird. I've completed the Account Setup. The page checks the input and then return an error message saying: "Unable to log in at server. Probably wrong configuration, username or password". The username and password are stored in Bitwarden [Password Manager] so are not wrong. In any case, I have the same email account open in a different browser demonstrating that I am using the right log-in name and password. Knowing that the configuration is likely incorrect is no help. I have no idea what part of the configuration is incorrect. Guidance on what to change would be appreciated. [Just in case the developers are reading, it would be really useful if paste was not disabled for the password field. Other browsers don't disable paste and I don't see why security requires it.] EDITED ADDITION [Thanks David]: The email provider is Gmail.

Modified by Wayne Mery

Chosen solution

ALL

Problem is insoluble. DON'T know how to CLOSE the post so I'll just have to say the problem is solved.

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All Replies (7)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

This is sometimes affected by which email client is being used. For example, Gmail requires an app password, not the password used for webaccess, and I believe others may also do this for security purposes. You may get more help if you share the email provider name.

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor

The password form for gmail, if you areusing oauth, is from Google not Thunderbird. So we can't change ability to paste.

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

My suggestion for Gmail is to NOT enter password during setup. Instead, wait until Google prompts for it. After verifying your password, Google will store an app password in Thunderbird. That app password is good ONLY for that one PC and you.

Paul Temple
Paul Temple Question owner

David.

I understand what you suggest and I did try it. In theory, it sort of workes but, in practice, Google blocks pasting in passwords and I cannot type one in. So, Google effectively locks me out of using Firebird --- the problem is insoluble. If it hadn't ben for Google [why do they prevent pasting in a password --- nobody else does], your solution would have helped.

Thanks anyway.

Paul Temple
Paul Temple Question owner

Wayne

Thanks, point taken and Google is the problem.

Paul

Paul Temple
Paul Temple Question owner

Chosen Solution

ALL

Problem is insoluble. DON'T know how to CLOSE the post so I'll just have to say the problem is solved.

Thomas Jahn
Thomas Jahn

Answers in another forum directed me to stop my local Apache server from running on localhost. Oddly, immediately after stopping the service, Thunderbird was able to go through all of the authentication steps and confirm the account was established! Posting in case it helps someone else get past the log in at server error. Why my xampp installation actually got in the way is a mystery to me.